A new form of littering is quietly overtaking British streets, a phenomenon researchers have dubbed 'polite litter'. This involves people thoughtfully arranging their rubbish rather than discarding it recklessly on the ground.
The Study Behind the 'Polite' Problem
Dr Randa Kachef, an environmental scientist at King's College London, coined the term after observing littering behaviours for six years. Her research took place in two London sites, as well as in Brighton, Manchester, and Birmingham.
Across all locations, Dr Kachef recorded a total of 1,143 littering events. These were categorised into three types of intent: intentional, accidental, and polite. When cigarette litter was excluded from the data, the study revealed a startling figure: polite littering accounted for almost half (46.6%) of all incidents.
What Does Polite Litter Look Like?
Instead of tossing an empty coffee cup or sandwich pack onto the pavement, polite litterers strategically place their waste. Common spots include hedges, flower baskets, on top of fuse boxes and bollards, and in any other nook or cranny available.
Dr Kachef explained the mindset behind it: 'Polite litterers choose not to throw litter on the ground, yet are not prepared to commit to carrying the item home, or at least until a bin can be found.' People attempt to make their rubbish blend in with its surroundings, sometimes even viewing the arrangement as artistic or humorous.
Commonly 'politely' littered items include drink tins, sandwich packs, free newspapers, and coffee cups. Interestingly, the study found that cigarette butts were largely treated differently, often flicked away as part of a smoking ritual and not considered litter by many, despite their toxic content.
Consequences and Council Responsibilities
While the intention might seem better than blatant littering, the environmental consequence is the same. Polite litter still clutters streets, poses a danger to wildlife, and releases toxic chemicals.
Dr Kachef also pointed out that once placed, this rubbish can be scattered by animals. Bags left next to full bins, for instance, are often ripped open by foxes at night.
The academic argues that while the public is urged to take litter home, many councils are removing bins to encourage this, a tactic she deems unreasonable. 'Councils have a big part to play to ensure there are enough bins on our streets – and that they are emptied frequently,' she said. The solution, she suggests, lies in larger bins with greater capacity and more regular cleaning schedules.
With street cleaners collecting a staggering 2 million items of litter a day at a cost of over £1 billion a year to UK taxpayers, the issue of litter, in all its forms, remains a pressing and expensive problem.
